dugger



Y Aug. 1s, 1959 R. L. DUGGER 2,899,761

ROTARY PRESSING MACHINE Filed March 16, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 18, 1959 R. DUGGER ROTARY PRESSING MACHINE Filed March 16, 1,956

X 2,899,761y 1C@ Y Patented Aug- 18: 1959 ROTARY PREssiNG MAcInNE Ralph L. Dugger, Hopkins, Minn., assignor to The Unipress Company, Incorporated, Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Application March 16, 1956, serial No. 572,016

4 claims. (ci. .ss- 5) This invention relates to improvements in rotary pressing machines of the type having a plurality of individual pressing machines of what are ordinarily of the stationary type, mounted on a rotary frame or turntalble of low elevation, which is arranged to be rotated on a vertical axis. Such rotary pressing machines are exemplified in Patent 2,669,044 and various other patents of the prior art.

All modern prior art pressing machines of this type and as exemplified by the aforesaid and other patents of the prior art utilize :separate individual presses of the type having steam heated presser heads, and usually also, steam heated bucks. The mechanism in each press, for moving the head against the buck for pressing, yis almost always an air motor, suitably controlled, although equivalent motors of other types may be used. In the case of air motor driven presses, air under pressure, for operating the air motors of the several presses on the rotary frame is conducted thru an air supply line. The steam supply line and condensate return line which are required for the heated bucks and heads, and the air supply line are arranged co-axially and in alignment with the center of rotation of the rotary turntable and each of these linm must be conducted thru a suitable rotary gland since they extend from a stationary location to the rotary turntable. Due to requirement for co-axial alignment of the several supply and return lines (air, steam and condensate), some or all of the lines are nested and made concentric, and duplex or triplex rotary glands are utilized. While the foregoing design requirements of the prior art rotary presses can, in many cases be fulfilled satisfactorily it has been found that in at least some instances diiiiculties are encountered; particularly in respect to the larger diameter steam and condensate return glands which usually operate at higher temperatures, especially in respect to the steam line.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate the aforesaid difficulty in pressing machines of the aforesaid type, by reducing the total number of supply lines requiring rotary glands, from three lines to two lines.

It is another object of the present invention in pressing machines of the aforesaid rotary type to provide for the supply of steam to the presses and to provide for the return of condensate by means of the one pipe system, with appropriate valves and controls.

It is another object of the invention to provide, in pressing machines of the aforesaid rotary type, a one pipe steam and condensate return line having valve means therein operated for alternately supplying steam and permitting the return of condensate, on a time or temperature function basis.

`Other and further objects of the invention are those inherent in the apparatus herein illustrated, described and claimed.

'Ihe invention is illustrated inthe drawings in which corresponding numerals refer to the same parts and in which:

Figure l is a schematic plan view of a representative type of pressing machine embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic vertical sectional View taken along the line and in the direction of arrows 2-2 of Figure l; and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary, schematic and somewhat enlarged View of representative portions of the apparatus of the invention.

In general it may be stated that rotary pressing machines of the type of which the present invention is an improvement consist of a rotary turntable of low elevation that is adapted to be placed on the oor and upon which there are mounted a plurality of individual pressing machines. The pressing machines are of the laundry or garment pressing type and may have the same or different types of bucks and heads for pressing the same or different portions of garments or laundry items. While rotary pressing machines of this type may be built as a unitary structure, for ease of manufacture and reduction in cost it has been found that ordinary individual air driven, steam heated, pressing machines of a design that are normally mounted directly on a oor, may be used to advantage, such individual pressing machine being mounted in regularly spaced relationship around the periphery of the rotary turntable of low elevation. In such mechanical organization the presses are thus rotated one at a time in front of an operator station. At or slightly ahead of the operators station, the press is automatically controlled by its rotary movement so as to actuate the press to open-press position and the operator may, without moving from her position, remove the pressed garment and lay an unpressed garment on the buck. Usually the rotation 'of the pressing machine rotary platform is continuous (but it may be operator-controlled), the removal of the pressed garment and replacement of the unpressed garments on the bucks of the several presses being effected while each press is moved by the operator station. Then as each press of the pressing machine progresses in succession along its rotary path of motion it reaches a position adjacent to but slightly beyond the operator station where provision is made for automatically actuating controls of each press to cause the presser head to move against the buck into pressing relationship therewith. The actuation of the controls may be accomplished by various means, such as cams that are mounted on the floor or upon supports and which are engaged by appropriate mechanism-s on the presses, or as it moves past a predetermined station, which is known as the closing station. The press then automatically closes and then remains closed as it continues its course of travel around its circular path of motion being ca led around by the rotary platform and during such closed conditions the press is held closed by continuous application of air line pressure, which, if released, would permit the press to open. At a predetermined station, known as the opening station, appropriate controls are actuated by cams or other mechanisms, such as timers, so as to release air line pressure, so as to cause the press to open, and it then is in an open condition when it again reaches the operator station. In the usual prior art machine the bucks and heads of the presses are continuously heated by incoming steam which enters thru the steam line and condensate is continuously or periodically withdrawn thru the condensate return line.

It is in this class of pressing machines that the invention hereinafter described constitutes improvements. For purposes of illustration, but not by way of limitation there is herein illustrated a rotary pressing machine resembling that shown in the Patent 2,669,044.

Referring to the drawings, particularly Figures l and 2, the pressing machine includes a central oor plate 10 which is adapted kto be placed or bolted upon the ioory 11 on which the pressing machine is installed. Upon the plate there is a central stationary pivot 12. The pivot shaft 12 which is hollow, serves to support a suitable ball or sleeve bearing 1S which is mounted in the main ilange 16 of the circular rotary frame plate 17. The bearing 11% is usually constructed to serve as a thrust bearing so to receive the weight load at the center of the rotary frame plate 17. The plate 17 is preferably of circular shape and near its periphery it is reinforced by ring channels 20 and 21 which are Vpositioned so that their ilanges are oppositely directed and are of such a diameter as to leave a space between the webs of the flanges. Within this space are mounted a plurality of wheels 22. Greatest rigidity is provided by placing two or more of the wheels 22 under each ofthe presses that are mounted upon the rotary 'frame .plate 17 so as to steady the plate 17 against vibration due to the opening and closing of the presses. Plate 17 may, if desired, have radial stiiening webs not illustrated in order to increase its rigidity. The wheels 22 may have rubber tires, if desired, and the wheels 22 may run directly upon the floor 11 where the floor has sufcient evenness. Where the installation is made on a rough or uneven floor 11, it is preferable to place a circular sheet metal track 24 on the floor along the path where the wheels 22 track. The axis of cach of the wheels 22 is radial in respect to the central pivot axis 12.

For rotating the circular frame plate 17 and all elements carried thereon, there is provided a belt 25 which may be a chain belt, as shown in Figure l, which passes over a pulley 26 that is mounted on radial arm 27, the Aarm being pivoted at 2% to the floor. An adjustment screw 30 mounted in the stationary bracket 31, is positioned so as to bear against the arm 27 so as to move it arcuately and thus permit tightening or loosening of the belt 25. The belt 25' also runs over the driven pulley 32. Ihe pulley 32 rotates at slow speed and is preferably driven by an electric motor 34 through a gear box. It is preferable to use a motor 34 which is capable of speed variations, such as a wound-rotor repulsion induction motor, a shunt type direct current motor or the like. It is perfectly feasible to utilize an air driven motor 34 for constant or variable speed application where such is desired. The On-OE and speed controls for motor 34 are .appropriately selected for controlling speed and opertation of the motor 34 and may be mounted on a panel 46 which forms a vertical fence at the left of operator station 37. Rotation is in the direction of arrow 35.

Upon the rotary base 17 there are mounted a plurality of pressing machines generally designated A, B, C and D in Figures l and 2. Any suitable number of pressing machines greater than one may be utilized, depending upon the size and capacity of the unit and the type of work desired to be done by means of the installation. Four pressing machines are shown in the illustrated embodiment of the invention and are spaced evenly around the rotary frame plate 17. The rotation of the frame plate 17 is in the direction of the arrow 3S and rotation of the drive pulley 32 is shown by the arrow 36. An operator station indicated by the oor pad 37 extends through approximately one-quarter of the circular path of motion of the floor plate 17 and presses A-D mounted thereon. Adjacent the terminating edge 38 of the operator station, there is provided a protective guard 40 which likewise extends through approximately one-quarter of the p ath of rotation of the door plate 17 and the presses mounted thereon. The guard 40 roughly denes the position of a press at the closing station, it being understood that the guard extends somewhat ahead of and behind the position to which the presses close at the closing station and is sufciently high so as adequately to safeguard any person from introducing members of their body 'into the press while the press is closing. From the termination of the closing station, which is at the position approximately shown by press D in Figure 1 and 4 Y continuing in the direction of arrow 35, there is a portion of the path of motion during which the pressing part of the cycle takes place. During this portion of the cycle the pressing head is closed down upon the buck and is held down (closed) so long as line per pressure is maintained on the air motor of the press. The opening station is between the position in which press B is shown in Figure l, which is still closed, and the leading edge 41 of the operator station. At the opening station each press is opened by discontinuing the application ,of line air.- pressure and exhausting the airmotor ofthe press, whereupon the press will then be opened by its springs, as is well known.

The closing station actuator (cams) is shown Agenerally at 42 and the opening -station actuator (cams) is shown generally at 45.

Adjacent the leading edge of the guard 40 there is a control panel generally designated 46, which serves as a fence, and on which -the On-OE controls. of ymotor 34 and speed controls therefor, and Emergency controls, are located convenient to the operator.

The presses A-D (or any number which are mounted upon the rotary iloor plate 17) may be of any desired individually power driven presses. Present day presses are usually air driven and in the embodiment of the linvention herein illustrated, the presses A-D are of =the type shown in Patent Re. 22,041, although it -is to be understoodthat any suitable one or two cylinder air press, or other power driven press may be utilized. Thus, ffor example, the presses A-'D-can be lsingle cylinder air driven presses of which the type -shown in Patent 2,265,449 is exemplary, or they can be multiple air cylinder presses.

In the exemplified showing of the invention illustrated in Figure 2, each of the pressing machines includes a frame S2 which is suitably attached to the circular revolving frame plate 17. The type of presses illustrated is a'twocylinder press, but as hereinbefore stated, this is merely exemplary of any type of power-actuated presses that may be used. In the presses shown, each has apress frame and upon the frame 52 is mounted 'a stationary Vbuck 54 and a presser arm V55 which is pivoted at 56. The presser arm carries a presser head 57 vwhich is movable from an open position (as shown for press A at the left in Figure 2), to the closed position (as shown for press D at-the right Figure 2). The movement ofthe press from ,open to closed position and from closedto open position is accomplished by means of an air or other uid motor suitably controlled by push-button type valves. Y*

In Patent Re. 22,041, which explains the operation of presses of this type, the aircylinders (here, not illustrated) for operating the press are energized through two-hand control vvalves that are (in theY case of a single pressing machine) located near the front of the pressing machine on the Work table beneath the bucks, VIn the present 'nstance these two valves (corresponding to two hand control valves) are located at 75 and 76 near the Ybase 0f the press (as in `Patent 2,669,044) and when theyare automatically operated by cams, air under pressure vis lntroduced from the air supply pipe for operating 'the press. Valves 75 and 76 are normally closed butwhen both are opened by actuation of their cams 87 and 86, air 1s introduced through a suitable intermediate control to the airmotors of the press and this causes closing and then squeezing of the pressing head 57 against `buck 54. The press remains closed until ,pilot valve .8.2 is actuated by lts opening .cam 90, which actuates the intermediate controls sov as to `allo-w ,the press to open `under actlon of springs (not shown). The foregoing controls are described in greater detail in Patents 2,669,044 and Re. 22,041, It is to be understood thatany ,suitablecolitrols for the presses A, B, C and D Amay he utilized, depending upon the style o'f the press, and that the-,specific 1llustration herein `givenjs ,therefore only exemplary.

Thus, as each press reaches the .closing station 42 lthe cams 86 and 87 cause actuation or the appropriate prese closed chambers.

controls and the presser head 57 closes upon buck 54.

The continued rotation of the frame 17 carries the then closed press in the direction of arrow 35 and the pressing action takes place until the operating controls of the press are brought adjacent the opening station 45 at which place a single cam 90, which is mounted under the cover 45, actuates the operating stem of the opening valve 82, thereby causing opening of each press as it moves by the opening station 45. The thus opened press continues around through the operator station 37. The operator removes the pressed garment and lays a fresh unpressed or damp garment on the buck while the rotation is continued, or two operators, if desired, may be at the operating station 37, one who will remove the garments and another place the unpressed garments on the buck. The then open press with the unpressed garment on the buck then continues around to the station 42 where closure of the press is occasioned as previously described.

According to the present invention the steam line and condensate line are combined as a single pipe system and compressed air for operating presses is supplied by one pipe, thus requiring only two pipes rather than three, as in prior machines. These pipes may both be introduced from below the machine or both may be introduced from above the machine, or one of the pipes, such as the compressed air supply line, may be brought in from overhead and the combined steam and condensate line brought in from below, or vice versa, all depending upon the particular installation. It is perfectly feasible, according to the present invention to bring in both lines from over-V head, or frombelow, or one from each direction.

In the pressing machines, the presser heads 57 and the bucks 54 all have steam chests which are essentially The presser head has a smooth and polished, usually chrome plated under surface and the bucks are usually litted 4with spring padding and covers, as is well known. The prior art heads and bucks have usually two connections or ports, that is a steam line connection and a return condensate connection. According to this invention `only one connection is used and it is located so that it is at a low point such as port 57A in the back lower edge of the presser head and at the port 54A back edge of the buck. The buck does not usually move much, being normally horizontal and mounted on heavy springs (not shown), which permit only a little up and down motion of the buck. Port 54A is therefore preferably located in a little sump in the chest 54B of the buck so as to facilitate drainage. The chest 57B of the head has a curved under surface and therefore the port 57A is low, even when the presser head engages the buck, and when the presser head 57 is in any elevated position, as in Figure 3, the port 57A is at a distinctly lowest position.

The ports 54A and 57A are preferably made somewhat larger than normal, since they, and the exible and solid supply lines connected to them, accommodate not only steam flow but also condensate flow.

To the closed steam chest 57B of the presser head there is coupled a tiexible pipe 90 leading to junction 91 and to the closed steam chest 54B of the buck there is coupled a flexible pipe 92 which likewise leads to junction 91 and thence continues as pipe 93 which attaches to one of the ports of the combined multiple coupling and rotary gland 94. Each of the lines 90, 92 and 93 is arranged so as to grade (slope) downwardly to the coupling-gland 94. The lines 90 and 92 are, of course ilexible throughout at least part of their length and are mounted and arranged so that when the chests 54B and 57B are at minimum elevation, as when the presser head is in contact with and has somewhat depressed the spring mounted buck 54, there will still be some downward slope on lines 90 and 92. When the presser head 57 is elevated the grade of line 90 will of course increase a great deal, which is an advantage and at such time, the buck will lift a little also to increase slightly the grade of line 92.

This likewise'is an advantage. Hence,fregardless of the instantaneous position ofthe bucks 54 and heads 57, there is a tendency for condensate to drain back to the body of the combined coupling and rotary gland 94. All of the presses on the rotary frame are piped to the combined coupling and rotary gland 94, as illustrated for one of the presses in Figure .3, and the combined gland and coupling 94 therefore serves as a junction into which all of the lines 93 from the several presses are connected.

It is noted parenthetically that in Figure 3, those portions above the line x-x are on the rotary frame 17 and turn about lthe vertical axis of rotation represented by the vertical centerlineC-L All portions below the line x--x in Figure 3 are stationary. It is further noted that in Figures 1-3, the air line 100 and combined steam-condensate line 101 are concentric and enter from below, but as previously stated, they can enter from above, or one (such as the air line) can enter from above and the other (such as the steam-condensate line) can enter from be-v low, or vice versa. The air line 100 enters and passes thru the stationary T 102 where a side connection 103 of the steam-con` densate line is made. The two lines and 101 are nested with sufficient annular space 101A between them to accommodate the steam-condensate Hows. Lines 100 and 101 enter the combined coupling-gland body 94, which of course rotates with the rotary frame and -to which a connection 93 is made -to each press, as already described. Line 100 passes straight thru the gland 94 and thru the packing 94B to the gland 104 which also serves as a multiple rotary coupling to which individual air supply lines 105 radiate to each of the presses.

At the T 102, the air line 100 separates from the steam and condensate line 101, and the latter continues as a side branch 103 which connects to a two-way solenoid actuated valve generally designated 110.

Valve has port 111 connected to pipe 103; port 112 which is connected to a high pressure steam supply line and port 113 which is connected to line 114 which leads thru a manually adjustable throttle valve 127 to the low pressure condensate return line. In valve 110 is a steam entrance port valve seat 115 and a condensate exit port 116, which are-situated co-axially so that `they can be closed or opened alternately by a single valve element 117 which is carried by a valve stem 118. The stem 118 extends down thru a valve guide section 119 and is attached directly to the vertically reciprocable solenoid core 120, coaxially arranged in the solenoid coil winding 122. One or more O-ring seals may be provided at 136. A spring 121 around the valve stem 11S and between the casing of valve 110 and the upper end of solenoid core normally biases the stem 118, core 120 and valve element 117 downwardly, so as to close ott the condensate exit port 116, but when coil 122 is energized the core 120 is suiciently lifted to force the upper conical face of valve element 117 against the steam entrance port 115, thereby closing off the inow of steam to the system and the condensate exit port 116 is simultaneously opened. As a consequence the steam contained within the entire system is permitted to blow off to the condensate return line and in doing so forceably carries away condensate water. The manually adjustable Valve 127 in the condensate line 114 is adjusted so as to throttle the outow of steam and condensate, so as to prevent the too forceful ejection of steam and condensate.

The energization of solenoid 122 is on a time basis, according to which the periodicity and duration of energization may be varied, This is accomplishedby utilizing a standard timer operated switching device 130 having adjustment 131 for varying the time interval between cycles of switch closure and another adjustment 132 for varying the duration of switch closure. Accordingly electric power from lines L1 and L2 is applied periodically to terminals 133-134 which are connected via lines 125 and 126 to terminals 123 and 124 of the solenoid. The

"Period adjustment may be chosen as desired and may for example allow for adjustment of the interval between energization of terminals 133 and 134 from a minimum of say one half minute to a maximum of tive minutes, and the Duration adjustment, which can likewise be chosen as desired, may for example allow for adjustment of the duration of energization of terminals 133 and 134 from a low of say one half second to a high of thirty seconds. These 'values are not critical and wide latitude of adjustment still permits desirable results. It is preferred to have reasonable frequent periods of relatively short duration. In this way only a relatively small amount, of condensate will accumulate, whereupon it is exhausted quickly, and steam is reapplied. In this manner steam pressure is held on during periods when switch 130 does not energize solenoid 1Z0-422 and then, during a short period of energization the steam is quickly shut off and the condensate exit port is opened and the contained steam in the chests 57B of the presser heads and the chests 54B of the bucks 54 is permitted to blow down the condensate.

It .is a feature of the invention to provide adjustment via timer 130 and throttle valve 127 so that the outow of -the contained steam and attendant condensate in the system does not entirely reduce the pressure in the steam chest system. This action results from the throttling eiect of valve 127 and from the shortness of duration of the steam and condensate outflow portion of the cycle. Accordingly there is only a partial reduction in pressure in the system of lines and chests during the condensate discharge, with consequent steam saving. The grading of lines from toward the gland 94 facilitates the collection of condensate at that gland, with the result that during the condenstae blow-down portion of the cycle only a small time is required and blow-down of only a small portion of the contained steam in the chest system is required to eject the condensate. This is true regardless of whether the delivery from the situation of gland 94 is upward or downward.

As many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention may be made Without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the specific embodiments herein.

The form of the invention shown and described must be considered only as illustrative. Many variations withf in the scope of the invention illustrated, described and claimed will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the invention is therefore not to be limited except as stated in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a rotary pressing machine having a frame mounted for rotation about a xed axis on a stationary base, said frame having thereon a plurality of separate presses each having cooperating pressing elements at least one of which is steam heated, a stationary steam line and a sta tionary condensate return line, and power means connected to said elements and controls therefor, for moving said elements into and out of pressing engagement, the improvement comprising a single steam and condensate feeder pipe having a rotary gland therein extending co- 4'axially in respect to said fixed axis and terminating as a junction and rotatable with said rotary frame, branch feeders from said junction to each heated pressing` element of said presses, said feeders supplying steam to said, elements to heat the heated elements, valve means in said feeder exterior in respect to said frame for operation alternately to connect said feeder to the steam supply line and to the condensate return line and operator means connected to the valve means for cyclicly operating said valve means on a predetermined basis.

2. The apparatus of claim l further characterized in that said operator means is time controlled.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that said operator means includes an electric circuit having a timer switch therein connected to a solenoid for operating said valve means.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized the condensate return line is restricted for throttling theflow therethru.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,896,517 Johnson Feb. 7, 1933 2,203,359 McDougall June 4, 1940 2,292,846 Pritchard Aug. 11, 1942 2,632,965 Leef Mar. 31, 1953 

